That did it! (NOBODY calls ME chicken!)

Aodhan · Post by **Aodhan** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 8:36 am

A few days ago, I was attending stage workshops for the Arizona Ren Faire. We always have vocal warmups, accompanied by musicians.

One of my friends (An AWESOME violinist) shamed me into playing the whistle with them (She called me "CHICKEN"! We can't have that!), so I played with them.

Played again last night for the warmups, and the person that runs them invited me to be a part of the closing gate show! Me and my little whistle!! (Which, by the way, is normally a beautiful D elfsong in summers eve. I can't wait until my F/G set arrives, since most of the songs are in the key of G anyway...but I digress)

I still have a well, not a fear, but maybe a trepidation...no, that's not right. Ok, call it a fear, of playing in front of other people, but maybe this will help me get rid of it!

WOOHOO!!!!!

Aodhan

Edit: It occurs to me that I have a "prototype" G pvc flute coming very soon...hmmm...

[ This Message was edited by: Aodhan on 2003-01-24 09:39 ]

serpent · Post by **serpent** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 8:57 am

Indeed, the flute was sent Priority and you should have it today. As I said, it is not pretty, but it is in tune!
Cheers,

serp

Bert · Post by **Bert** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 9:00 am

Sounds like fun! I still wrestle with stage fright when I play any musical instrument in front of others. Good luck and have a great time!

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 9:03 am

Aodhan,
to battle stage fright, when you're up on stage, just imagine that you are in your underwear and that everybody is looking at you. That's why they're laughing so loud that they can't hear that you brought the wrong key whistle by mistake.

_________________
/bloomfield

[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2003-01-24 10:04 ]

Aodhan · Post by **Aodhan** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 9:17 am

On 2003-01-24 10:03, Bloomfield wrote:
Aodhan,
to battle stage fright, when you're up on stage, just imagine that you are in your underwear and that everybody is looking at you. That's why they're laughing so loud that they can't hear that you brought the wrong key whistle by mistake.

_________________
/bloomfield

[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2003-01-24 10:04 ]

Bloom-

It isn't really stage fright. My primary part of everything is dancing (Which I do in a kilt, so I'm pretty close to in my underwear anyway), and I have no problem doing my whistle solo part on stage. It's when I get around people I know (i.e. session) that I get nervous, mostly because I don't think I can keep up, and I don't know a lot of the songs yet.

However, I was able to play session Wed night (In between the two workshops), and had a blast! msheldon is pretty damned good on a whistle (I envy his collection of lows!), and I was able to copy/follow along by watching his fingers a lot, and playing on a pretty nice Seery that is on loan at the moment.

I also can't wait until I have the money saved for the Busman whistle and the M&E R&R flute that I have in the works...

Hmmm...a G flute, the R&R, a Busman D, and an F/G set of Elfsongs also being made...WhOA has taken me! I better get some damn good busking in at the faire.....

(Unless of course, there are some people that need websites designed? Please?

)

Aodhan

[ This Message was edited by: Aodhan on 2003-01-24 10:20 ]

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 9:32 am

Good luck!!!!!! WOOT!

I get nervous just playing for my parents, so I'd freak out if I knew I was going to be playing for other people!

But you are going to do great, I'm sure!

Kim in Tulsa · Post by **Kim in Tulsa** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 9:33 am

On 2003-01-24 10:17, Aodhan wrote:
It's when I get around people I know (i.e. session) that I get nervous

I have a problem with that whenever I'm having a really good time, I grin like a jackass eating cactus or I just laugh out loud a lot! So whenever I'm playing my whistle around other people, I'm usually so tickled that someone actually wants to hear me (very rare) that I can't contain myself. It is very hard to whistle when you're grinning so that your face might split!

It sounds like you had a lovely exciting time! I wish someone had taken pictures! Doesn't anyone besides me think to haul a digital camera everywhere they go?

K

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 9:34 am

On 2003-01-24 10:17, Aodhan wrote:
... (Unless of course, there are some people that need websites designed? Please? )

Aodhan

Oh-oh! You know you are not allowed to do that! As pennance you have to send me an Oak D now.

Aodhan · Post by **Aodhan** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 10:02 am

On 2003-01-24 10:34, Bloomfield wrote:
On 2003-01-24 10:17, Aodhan wrote:
... (Unless of course, there are some people that need websites designed? Please? )

Aodhan
Oh-oh! You know you are not allowed to do that! As pennance you have to send me an Oak D now.

Sure! Hey, Jessie...send him an Oak D, willya?

Aodhan

Aodhan · Post by **Aodhan** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 10:04 am

On 2003-01-24 10:33, Kim in Tulsa wrote:
On 2003-01-24 10:17, Aodhan wrote:
It's when I get around people I know (i.e. session) that I get nervous
I have a problem with that whenever I'm having a really good time, I grin like a jackass eating cactus or I just laugh out loud a lot! So whenever I'm playing my whistle around other people, I'm usually so tickled that someone actually wants to hear me (very rare) that I can't contain myself. It is very hard to whistle when you're grinning so that your face might split!

It sounds like you had a lovely exciting time! I wish someone had taken pictures! Doesn't anyone besides me think to haul a digital camera everywhere they go?

K

Well, we should have a camera out at faire, so I'll get some pictures then.

And I agree about the playing...someone said something at session and both msheldon and I laughed into our whistles...you get the most interesting honks that way...

Aodhan

msheldon · Post by **msheldon** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 10:49 am

On 2003-01-24 10:17, Aodhan wrote:
However, I was able to play session Wed night (In between the two workshops), and had a blast! msheldon is pretty damned good on a whistle (I envy his collection of lows!), and I was able to copy/follow along by watching his fingers a lot, and playing on a pretty nice Seery that is on loan at the moment.

You really should play more at session. First, it's a necessary skill to be able to match tempo with other instrumentalists. Second, the fear you have of screwing up in front of them is merely your motivation to practice more. It sure worked for me.

Oh, and while I certainly appreciate the compliment on my whistle playing, so be sure to specify *low* whistles.

I've really been doing well on the lows, but I need a *lot* more mork on the higher-speed material on the high-d.

AnnaDMartinez · Post by **AnnaDMartinez** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 4:57 pm

Do what I did. Get PI$$ED instead!

Aodhan · Post by **Aodhan** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 5:03 pm

On 2003-01-24 17:57, Anna Martinez wrote:
Do what I did. Get PI$$ED instead!

Hmmm...

Would that be as in mad (Grrr....

), or as in drunk? (grrr...no more Guinness left!

)

Aodhan

elliott · Post by **elliott** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 10:31 pm

If your Ren Faire is anything like the one I played at, you won't be playing for humans anyway. Fairies can't hurt you .......

msheldon · Post by **msheldon** » Sat Jan 25, 2003 12:41 am

On 2003-01-24 23:31, elliott wrote:
If your Ren Faire is anything like the one I played at, you won't be playing for humans anyway. Fairies can't hurt you .......

A wide variety of folks at the Arizona Ren Faire (The one Aodhan is playing at soon). A standard daily "gate" is 10,000 people, on President's day weekend, it can reach 25,000 per day.